The platform is designed to simplify people-tracking operations across a wide range of settings, from conferences and corporate training sessions to educational institutions and nonprofit events. At its core, the system combines multiple scanning technologies with real-time data synchronization, giving event organizers instant visibility into attendance patterns and participant engagement.

Users can set up attendee registration, print badges with barcode or QR code identifiers, and track session participation through mobile and web-based dashboards. The platform supports barcode scanning, QR code reading, NFC tag tapping, and even OCR capabilities, providing flexibility depending on the hardware and workflow preferences of each organization.

One of the standout features is live spreadsheet synchronization. All attendee data captured through the platform syncs instantly to Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel, eliminating the lag that typically comes with manual data entry or batch uploads. This real-time connection means operations teams can monitor check-ins, track no-shows, and adjust logistics on the fly without switching between multiple tools.

The system also records attendee interactions automatically, building a log of participation that can be used for compliance reporting, certification tracking, or post-event analysis. For organizations running multi-session events like trade shows or training programs, this provides a detailed picture of how participants move through different tracks and sessions.

Harry Jung, CEO of GearChain, explained the thinking behind the platform. “Organizations are able to quickly build workflows for event attendance, training participation, visitor management without needing expensive enterprise systems or technical setup,” Jung said.

GearChain originally built its reputation in inventory and asset tracking, where its no-code approach helped businesses manage physical goods and equipment. The move into people workflow management represents a natural extension of that capability, applying the same customizable toolset to a different category of operational challenge.

The NFC tag support is particularly notable for event environments where speed matters. Unlike QR codes that require a camera scan, NFC allows attendees to simply tap their badge against a reader for near-instant check-in. This reduces bottlenecks at entry points and session doorways, especially during peak arrival times at large events.

For visitor management and internal company events, the platform offers a lighter-weight alternative to dedicated access control systems. Organizations can deploy a functional check-in workflow in hours rather than weeks, scaling up or down depending on the size and complexity of the event.

With the growing demand for flexible, affordable event technology, GearChain’s no-code platform positions itself as a practical option for organizations that need reliable attendance tracking without the overhead of traditional enterprise solutions.

The post GearChain Introduces No-Code NFC Event Attendance Tracking first appeared on RFID News.

The decision to establish a physical office in Saudi Arabia comes at a time when the Kingdom is investing heavily in large-scale infrastructure, smart city developments, and modern workplace environments. These projects demand sophisticated security solutions that can manage identities, assets, and access rights across both physical and digital domains. Nedap’s technology is well positioned to address those requirements, particularly in sectors such as oil and gas, government, healthcare, finance, education, and commercial real estate.

Maarten Van Cauwenberghe, Managing Director for the META and APAC regions, highlighted the strategic importance of the move. He described Saudi Arabia as a key growth market for Nedap, citing both the scale of current opportunities and the long-term development trajectory. By being closer to partners and end users, the company expects to improve collaboration on complex, large-scale security deployments that are becoming increasingly common across the region.

To lead the new operation, Nedap has appointed Junaid Ul Haq as Country Director for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Ul Haq emphasized that a local presence has become essential as projects grow in complexity, and that the office will help organizations support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions. Vision 2030 has been a driving force behind much of the region’s modernization, creating demand for integrated security platforms that can scale with ambitious national projects.

Nedap’s product portfolio includes the AEOS access control platform, identity and access management solutions, mobile access capabilities, RFID readers, and locker management systems. All of these are built on open architecture, which allows for seamless integration with third-party systems. This interoperability is a critical factor for large organizations that need to unify diverse security technologies under a single management framework.

The RFID reader technology that Nedap offers plays a central role in modern access control deployments. These readers support multiple credential types, including NFC-based smart cards and mobile credentials, providing organizations with flexibility as they transition away from legacy badge systems. The open platform approach also means that enterprises are not locked into a single vendor ecosystem, a consideration that is increasingly important for government and critical infrastructure projects.

With the Saudi Arabian market poised for continued growth in smart building and security infrastructure, Nedap’s local office positions the company to compete for major projects while providing the hands-on support that complex deployments require. The move reflects a broader industry trend of global security technology providers establishing regional offices to better serve markets where demand for integrated access control and identity management solutions is accelerating.

Read more at https://www.nedap.com/en/news/nedap-expands-presence-in-saudi-arabia-with-new-office

The post Nedap expands presence in Saudi Arabia with new office first appeared on RFID News.

How LF RFID Works

LF RFID systems operate within the 125 kHz to 134.2 kHz frequency band, with 125 kHz being the most widely adopted standard. At this frequency, electromagnetic waves have a relatively long wavelength, which gives LF RFID some distinctive physical characteristics.

The read range of LF RFID is typically limited to less than 10 centimetres. While this may seem like a limitation compared to HF or UHF alternatives, it is actually a deliberate advantage in many scenarios. A short, predictable read range means that tags are only detected when brought into close proximity with a reader, reducing the risk of unintended or accidental reads.

LF tags are predominantly passive, meaning they draw their operating power from the electromagnetic field generated by the reader. This eliminates the need for an on-board battery, keeping tags small, inexpensive, and virtually maintenance-free.

Why LF RFID Excels Near Metal and Water

One of the standout qualities of LF RFID is its resilience in challenging environments. Unlike higher-frequency RFID systems, which can suffer from signal reflection, absorption, or detuning when used near metal surfaces or in the presence of water, LF RFID performs reliably in both conditions.

The longer wavelength at 125 kHz is far less susceptible to interference from metals and liquids. This makes LF the preferred frequency for industrial settings, outdoor environments, and any application where tags may be exposed to moisture, mud, or metallic housings.

Key Applications of LF RFID

LF RFID technology is deeply embedded in several major sectors, each taking advantage of its ruggedness and dependable short-range performance.

Animal Tagging and Identification

LF RFID is the global standard for livestock and companion animal identification. Microchips implanted under the skin of pets, cattle, sheep, and horses operate at either 125 kHz or 134.2 kHz (the ISO 11784/11785 standard). These tiny glass transponders can last the lifetime of the animal, providing a permanent and tamper-proof form of identification. Farmers and veterinarians use handheld LF readers to scan animals quickly, supporting traceability, health records, and regulatory compliance.

Access Control

Proximity cards and key fobs used in building access systems are among the most familiar LF RFID applications. Technologies such as HID Prox and EM4100 operate at 125 kHz, enabling employees and residents to unlock doors by holding a card near a wall-mounted reader. The short read range is ideal here, as it ensures that only the card presented at the reader is authenticated, preventing cross-reads from nearby cardholders.

Automotive Immobilisers

Nearly every modern vehicle uses an LF RFID transponder embedded in the ignition key or key fob as part of its immobiliser system. When the key is inserted or brought close to the steering column, the vehicle’s reader energises the transponder and verifies its unique code. If the code does not match, the engine will not start. This passive, battery-free approach to vehicle security has dramatically reduced car theft rates worldwide since its widespread adoption in the late 1990s.

LF RFID: Still Relevant in a High-Frequency World

Despite the growth of NFC, UHF, and other wireless technologies, LF RFID continues to thrive in niches where its core strengths matter most. Its tolerance of metal and water, combined with a reliable and secure short-range read, makes it difficult to replace in animal identification, physical access control, and automotive security.

For organisations evaluating RFID solutions, understanding where LF fits into the broader frequency landscape is essential. It may not offer the speed or range of its higher-frequency counterparts, but when the application demands ruggedness, simplicity, and close-range precision, 125 kHz technology delivers.

The post What is LF RFID? Understanding 125 kHz Technology first appeared on RFID News.

The deployment integrates Sharry’s smart access and workplace experience platform with HID’s trusted identity solutions. At the credential layer, HID provides secure digital ID issuance and management, while Sharry serves as middleware connecting H-FARM’s identity management system with HID’s infrastructure and the campus Genetec access control system.

Students and staff can add their credentials to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet with a single tap inside the H-FARM app. From there, NFC-enabled access works across the entire campus, from student rooms to common areas and printer stations, with no need to open additional apps.

The uptake at H-FARM was immediate. Alberto Aldrigo, CTO at H-FARM, said that within just three minutes of receiving the activation notification, 70% of users had already enabled their virtual badge. “From the very beginning, we envisioned a campus where credentials would always be within reach, directly on a smartphone. With HID and Sharry, this vision has become a reality through a solution that is simple, secure and reliable,” Aldrigo said.

H-FARM College sits on the edge of the Venice lagoon and operates as an innovation ecosystem where education, startups and technology coexist on a single integrated campus. The institution already offered a campus app for maps, food ordering, payments and event updates. Adding wallet-based student IDs was a natural extension of that digital-first approach.

Matej Pokorn, Head of Customer Success at Sharry, highlighted the speed of the rollout. “What might have taken months was accomplished in just a few weeks, a testament to the shared vision and agility of everyone involved,” he said. “H-FARM sets a new benchmark for how campuses can modernize access and identity without compromising security.”

Dominic Bruning, Director of Strategic Alliances for Mobile, EMEA, at HID, described the deployment as “a strong example of what a truly digital campus can be: secure, mobile and frictionless by design.”

The project builds on an existing partnership between HID and Sharry, which has previously delivered wallet-based office access projects in the United States, the European Union and Latin America. The H-FARM deployment represents a significant step toward fully digital campuses in Europe, where identity, access and services converge in a single mobile-first experience.

For European universities exploring contactless campus access, the H-FARM implementation offers a practical reference point, demonstrating that NFC wallet-based credentials can be deployed quickly and at scale within a higher education environment.

The post HID and Sharry Debut Digital Wallet Student IDs in Europe with H-FARM College first appeared on RFID News.

The announcement reflects a broader shift in how organizations approach identity governance. Traditionally, physical access control systems and IT authentication have operated as separate silos, with employees using one credential to badge through a secured door and a different method, often a password or separate token, to access workstations and cloud applications. HID Converged Credentials collapses these layers into a single, standards-based credential that works across every access point.

The platform supports FIDO2 and PKI standards, delivering phishing-resistant authentication to both physical and logical environments. This approach aligns with current regulatory and security frameworks that require strong, auditable authentication across all enterprise access points. By unifying credential management, security administrators gain consolidated visibility, streamlined provisioning and revocation, and simplified compliance reporting.

HID’s 2026 State of Security and Identity Report, which surveyed more than 1,500 end users and industry partners, found that 75% of organizations have already deployed or are actively evaluating converged identity solutions. Identity management ranked as the top strategic priority across all surveyed categories, with 73% of physical security professionals identifying it as a leading trend and 60% planning to increase investment in the area. Despite this momentum, 52% of respondents still cite the complexity of fragmented identity systems as their primary barrier to progress.

“Our customers have trusted HID to secure their facilities for decades,” said Daniel Gundlach, Vice President and Head of Business Unit, NAM – PACS, HID. “HID Converged Credentials is a direct response to what they’re telling us: they want fewer vendors, less complexity and a credential that works everywhere, from the front door to the desktop and the cloud.”

HID Converged Credentials is available across multiple form factors to fit different deployment scenarios. Crescendo Smart Cards provide a single card for both physical door access and phishing-resistant digital login, supporting FIDO2, PKI and OATH protocols without requiring a separate token. Security Keys offer portable FIDO2 and PKI authentication for high-assurance access to workstations and cloud applications. Micro Readers are compact NFC-enabled readers designed to extend converged access to workstations and environments where mobile device use is not practical.

“HID Converged Credentials delivers on both fronts, giving employees one credential to access the building, their workstation and applications, while making credential management simpler and more efficient for organizations,” said Sean Dyon, VP and Head of Authentication, HID.

The solution is designed to integrate with existing infrastructure, reducing disruption during deployment while modernizing an organization’s identity architecture. By standardizing on a single credential lifecycle management layer across physical and logical access, enterprises can reduce vendor sprawl, improve audit trails, and align their security posture with evolving threat landscapes, including AI-enabled credential attacks.

HID is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand headquartered in Austin, Texas, with more than 4,500 employees worldwide.

Read more at https://newsroom.hidglobal.com/hid-announces-converged-credentials-solution-bridging-physical-and-logical-identity-across

The post HID Global Announces Converged Credentials Solution for Unified Identity Management first appeared on RFID News.

RFID Authentication Addresses Weapon Retention Risks

Free State Firearms, headquartered in Baldwin City, Kansas, designs firearms that pair with an RFID credential carried by the authorised officer. The system ensures the weapon can only be operated by its designated user, delivering what the company describes as a seamless and fast access control solution that requires no additional steps under normal operating conditions. If a subject attempts to seize the officer’s firearm during a transport operation, RFID authentication renders the weapon inoperable in unauthorised hands.

Weapon retention during prisoner transport is widely regarded as one of the most serious safety challenges facing law enforcement personnel. Sheriff Nathan Johnson of the Real County Sheriff’s Office cited this directly when explaining the decision to adopt the technology. “Free State Firearms’ user-authenticated technology gave us a solution that directly addresses that risk,” he said. “After thorough testing, we were confident it was ready for duty use – and it has performed exactly as advertised. We’re proud to be the first agency to deploy this technology, and we believe it represents the future of responsible law enforcement carry.”

Rigorous Evaluation Before Operational Deployment

The Real County Sheriff’s Office conducted a full evaluation and qualification process before approving the RFID-authenticated firearm for operational duty use. The successful deployment provides real-world validation that user-authenticated firearm technology can meet the speed, reliability, and durability standards required in professional law enforcement environments.

Tom Holland, President of Free State Firearms, described the deployment as a landmark moment. “When a law enforcement agency trusts our firearm for one of their most demanding operational environments – prisoner transport – it speaks volumes about the reliability and real-world performance of our platform,” he said. Holland added that the company believes the deployment will attract wider attention across both law enforcement and consumer markets, noting that proven performance in prisoner transport conditions demonstrates the technology’s readiness for virtually any operational context.

Growing Interest in Law Enforcement RFID Solutions

User-authenticated firearms represent a growing area of interest among law enforcement agencies, policymakers, and consumers seeking to reduce the risks associated with weapon theft and unauthorised access – without compromising operational performance. RFID-based solutions are increasingly being evaluated as a practical technology for this challenge, given their proven track record in access control applications across a wide range of industries.

The Real County deployment offers the most compelling proof-of-concept to date that law enforcement RFID authentication can work in a high-stakes, real-world environment. As pressure mounts on agencies to demonstrate responsible firearms management, technology of this kind may see accelerated adoption across the sector.

Read more at https://freestatefirearms.co/2026/04/real-county-tx-sheriffs-office-deploys-rfid-based-user-authenticated-firearm-for-prisoner-transport-operations/

The post Texas sheriff’s office uses RFID-based firearm for security during prisoner transport first appeared on RFID News.

Round-the-Clock Monitoring in the Hills

According to the Uttarakhand administration, pilgrim movements across the Char Dham circuit will be monitored continuously using RFID. The four sacred sites, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, draw hundreds of thousands of devotees each season through narrow mountain routes where managing crowds and responding to emergencies is inherently difficult. Continuous tracking through RFID is intended to give authorities real-time visibility of pilgrim locations, improving both safety response times and overall crowd management.

How RFID Tracking Works in This Context

In large-scale people-tracking deployments of this type, pilgrims are typically issued an RFID-enabled tag or wristband at registration. Fixed RFID reader infrastructure is installed at key checkpoints along the route, including entry points, rest stops, and the shrine gates themselves. As a pilgrim passes a checkpoint, the reader captures the tag’s unique identifier and logs the time and location against their registration record.

For an outdoor pilgrimage corridor covering significant distances and altitude, UHF RFID (operating in the 860-960 MHz band) is the practical choice. UHF offers read ranges of several metres, meaning pilgrims do not need to present a tag directly to a reader. A reader mounted at a trail chokepoint can capture dozens of tags simultaneously as a crowd passes through, which is essential during peak pilgrimage days when footfall is extremely high. This passive UHF approach also means pilgrim tags require no battery, keeping wristband costs low and eliminating maintenance concerns over a multi-week season.

Safety and Emergency Response Benefits

The Char Dham routes pass through areas prone to sudden weather changes, landslides and flash floods. A live RFID tracking picture allows disaster response teams to identify which sections of a route were occupied at the time of an incident and to cross-reference registered pilgrims against those who have safely cleared a checkpoint. This kind of accountability data is far more reliable than manual headcounts in remote or post-incident conditions.

Beyond emergency scenarios, the system gives state authorities data on crowd density at individual shrines throughout the day, enabling better decisions on access control, transport scheduling and medical resource positioning.

A Growing Trend in Pilgrimage Management

India’s major pilgrimage sites have increasingly turned to technology-led management over the past decade. The Char Dham RFID initiative follows similar deployments at other high-footfall religious events where RFID and related technologies have been used to issue digital registration tokens, manage vehicle movement, and monitor crowd flow. As the technology matures and reader infrastructure becomes more cost-effective to deploy in remote locations, RFID-based pilgrim tracking is likely to become standard practice for large yatra circuits across the country.

The Uttarakhand administration has not disclosed the full technical specifications of the system or the vendor involved, but the April 19 launch date aligns with the traditional opening of the Char Dham shrines for the summer season.

The post Uttarakhand to use RFID tracking for Char Dham pilgrims first appeared on RFID News.

The core proposition of the XPass Q2 is its native QR and barcode authentication capability. Rather than relying on a general-purpose camera, the device uses a dedicated scanning module built specifically for QR reads. This matters in practice because busy entrances rarely offer ideal conditions – the module is optimised to handle varying lighting environments, which is a common pain point when deploying QR-based access at outdoor gates or poorly lit reception areas.

Beyond QR and barcode, the XPass Q2 supports RFID card credentials alongside BLE and NFC-based mobile access. This combination means facilities do not have to choose between legacy card infrastructure and newer mobile or QR workflows – the XPass Q2 handles all of them from a single reader head. For sites currently running a mix of employee RFID cards, visitor QR passes, and member or ticket-holder barcodes, that kind of credential flexibility reduces the number of reader types needed at any given entry point.

The hardware is rated IP65, making it suitable for both indoor installations and outdoor deployment where exposure to dust and water is a concern. Adaptive feedback through LED indicators and audio cues helps maintain throughput at high-traffic entrances, giving users a clear confirmation without slowing the line.

On the software side, the XPass Q2 integrates natively with Suprema’s BioStar X platform, which handles unified visitor workflow management and provides an API for third-party system integration. For organisations that need dynamic QR functionality – where codes are generated on demand and expire after use – Suprema offers compatibility through its CLUe integration platform. This is particularly relevant for event ticketing and temporary visitor access scenarios where static credentials are a security liability.

Suprema CEO Hanchul Kim commented on the launch: “QR codes have become the standard credential for visitors and ticket holders,” pointing to the purpose-built design of the XPass Q2 as a response to that shift. The broader trend here is real – many facilities that previously issued proximity or smart cards to everyone are now dealing with a visitor and event population that expects to present a QR code from a smartphone rather than carry a physical card.

The XPass Q2 positions itself as a practical answer to that operational reality. By consolidating QR, barcode, RFID, BLE, and NFC into one device with an outdoor-capable enclosure and deep BioStar X integration, Suprema is targeting the segment of the market where access control complexity has been growing fastest: mixed-use facilities, stadiums, corporate campuses with high visitor volumes, and venues where ticketing systems need to talk directly to access control infrastructure.

Read more at https://www.supremainc.com/en/about/news-detail.asp?iBOARD_CONT_NO=8130&News_Type=Releases

The post Suprema Launches XPass Q2 a Native QR/RFID Reader first appeared on RFID News.

Announced on April 1, 2026, the Pyxis Pro system combines RFID technology, advanced automation, and AI-driven analytics to help clinicians manage medication dispensing more efficiently while improving patient safety outcomes.

The new dispensing solution features a flexible, stackable device configuration that increases medication storage capacity while maintaining a similar physical footprint to previous Pyxis models. Healthcare facilities can configure the system with both refrigerated and ambient storage options, giving pharmacies and nursing units greater flexibility in how they manage drug inventories on-site.

Central to the system’s security capabilities is RFID badge scanning for controlled substance management. Staff authenticate using RFID-enabled badges before accessing medications, creating a robust audit trail for narcotics and other controlled drugs. The system also incorporates wireless barcode scanners for streamlined medication retrieval and illuminated bins that help clinicians quickly identify the correct medication, reducing the risk of dispensing errors.

On the data and analytics side, BD’s Incada Analytics Platform brings cloud-based intelligence to medication management operations. Built on Amazon Web Services infrastructure, the platform offers natural language search capabilities, enterprise-wide visibility into medication inventory levels, and customizable dashboards that surface patterns and trends across facilities. BD says the platform can scale to handle data from nearly 3 million connected devices worldwide.

European deployments of the Incada platform, expected to expand across the continent next year, will utilise the AWS European Sovereign Cloud to meet EU digital sovereignty and data residency requirements. The dispensing solution itself will support 15 languages during its phased European rollout, reflecting BD’s commitment to broad regional accessibility.

Esteban Rossi, VP and GM of Medication Management Solutions for the EMEA region at BD, highlighted the significance of the launch, noting that the company’s innovations in medication management are establishing new standards for unified, data-driven healthcare operations.

The healthcare sector has been steadily adopting RFID and IoT technologies to address persistent challenges around medication errors, supply chain visibility, and operational inefficiencies. BD’s latest offering targets all three areas by combining physical automation with connected data platforms that give hospital leaders real-time insight into how medications move through their facilities.

For European hospitals dealing with staffing pressures and rising patient volumes, systems like the Pyxis Pro could prove valuable in reducing clinician disruptions and improving the availability of critical medications at the point of care.

Read more at https://investors.bd.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/946/bd-launches-ai-enabled-medication-dispensing-system-to-the-european-market

The post Becton Dickinson Launches RFID and AI-Enabled Medication Dispensing System to the European Market first appeared on RFID News.

At the heart of MIFARE DUOX is a dual cryptography engine that combines elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) with AES-256 symmetric encryption. This pairing allows the chip to handle both PKI-based authentication and fast symmetric session encryption without needing separate security elements. For system integrators, that means simpler key management and fewer components in the signal chain.

The security credentials are serious. MIFARE DUOX carries Common Criteria EAL 6+ certification across both hardware and software layers, placing it among the most rigorously evaluated contactless ICs on the market. It also includes a Proximity Check feature designed to defeat relay attacks, along with Transaction Signature capability that cryptographically proves the authenticity of each NFC transaction.

For the EV charging sector specifically, NXP has developed dedicated “MIFARE DUOX EV” part types that ship with a preinstalled EV charging application, a ready-made file structure, and preinjected key material and certificates. These parts support user authentication compliant with VDE-AR-E 2532-100, the German standard for NFC-based EV charging identification. The authentication uses ECDSA-256 with the brainpoolP256r1 curve and SHA256 hashing, and crucially, smart card certificate validation happens in the online backend system rather than in the NFC reader firmware at the charging station itself. This simplifies the reader hardware and reduces the attack surface at the point of use.

The chip is built for harsh environments, with an operating range of -40°C to +105°C, making it suitable for outdoor charging infrastructure and automotive applications. It is also compliant with ISO/SAE 21434 for automotive cybersecurity and follows MISRA-C coding standards.

Beyond EV charging, MIFARE DUOX supports a flexible file system architecture that allows applications to be installed after the card has been issued. A single NFC-enabled smart card can host multiple applications from different service providers, covering corporate access control, EV charging authentication, user authorization, and loyalty programmes. This multi-application capability could reduce the number of physical credentials that end users need to carry.

“In fast-growing verticals like EV charging authentication or secure car access, we’re enabling the industry to reduce the complexity of key distribution and management, without compromising on contactless transaction speed or product versatility,” said Andre Perchthaler, Senior Director, MIFARE at NXP.

The launch positions NXP to compete in the growing intersection of NFC technology and electric vehicle infrastructure, where secure and standardised authentication is becoming a critical requirement as public charging networks expand across Europe and beyond.

Read more at https://www.nxp.com/company/about-nxp/newsroom/NW-NXP-SIMPLIFIES-NFC-SECURITY-WITH-MIFARE

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